HOSPITAL BOARD

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 48, Issue 75, 9 January 1928, Page 8

HOSPITAL BOARD

THE METHVEN HOME. TENDER. FOR EXTENSION. The Ashburton Hospital Board’s monthly meeting was held this morning, those present being Messrs F. W. Watt ‘(ciiairman), J. Bruce, A. Horsey, W. G. Gallagher, H. Maginness, G. S. Hardy, W. Bryant, and W. T. Lill The secretary (Mr A. Prentice) submited the following statement, showing receipts and payments for December: Receipts—Balance (Cr.) £2482 Is 6d, Patients’ Fees £SIG 6s Bd, Sundry Sales, etc.,. £3B 4s 9d; total, £3036 12s lOd.

Payments. —■ Hospital Maintenance, £1296 7s Id ; other Boards, £209; administration,. £213 Is lid; outdoor relief £53 11s lOd; sundries, £77 8s Id; Cap. expended, £6 16s 6d, balance-, £llBO 7s od; total, £3036 12s 10d.. The medical superintendent (Dr. :D. A-. Bathgate) reported as follows: Patients remaining Nov. 30: Males .30, females 29, total -59; admitted, males 25, females 21, total 46; total .treated, males 55, females 50, total, TOS; Discharged December, males 28, femaies 34, total 62; remaining Decem;ber 31, males 24, females 16, total 40. ■Outpatients 09, r outpatients’ treatvments 112, X-ray examinations 36, icliemistry examinations 29, bacteriology 23. operations performed during month 29, massage treatments during month 249/ plaster cases 2. The new X-ray tube has been supplied and is giving every satisfaction. The Matron of the County Hospital (Miss E. J. Watt) reported“ Sister Jackman returned from holidays oil December 16, Sister Tomlinson returns from holidays January 6, Sister Johnstono returned from sick leave on January 5, Sifter Dearsley leaves on Jannary 6 for annual holiday. .Staff Nurse Armstrong returned from sick leave on December 19; Nurses Caird, Hart, Me-, nify, and O’Sullivan are on— annual holiday. I feel very grateful indeed to Miss Brown, of Elgin, and her helpers, who collected such a substantial sum of money for Xmas comforts, and to those who sent me donations. I use the patients own words: “We’ve had an excellent Christmas.” Through someone’s kindness, Father Christmas made a return call on the children on New Year’s Eve, and left them all kinds of nice things. The new refrigerator, •which was finished just before Christmas day, has proved a boon. Words cannot express what a joy it is to be able to keep all food in a cool room, free from flies. We are also able to make as much ice as we require. Miss I Munro (Malvern Home) reported that during December 16 patients were admitted, 19 leaving 7 remaining. She added: as your Board has granted the use of the cottage for the accommodation of the trainees at Mjafvern, thus supplying ah extra room for patients, and in view of the extra bed, I should be glad it you would, grant the extra trainee for night duty at vour earliest convenience. The other Home reports were:— Methven (Miss Sparrow acting-ma-tronl.—Four patients were admitted 3 discharged, 1 remaining. Rakaia (Miss B. E. Hight. matron). —6 patients discharged, 6 admitted, 1 remaining. In regard to the request for an extra trainee at the Malvern Home, the chairman expressed doubt as to whether the work done by the Home warranted any addition to the staff. It was decided to refer the matter to .the Medical Superintendent. J*. letter was received from Messrs -'Watson and Co., of Wellington, offerto instal a Violet Ray machine free ofcost to the Board for a month’s trial. It was decided ,o accept the offer on condition, that in the event of the Board purchasing the apparatus, pavmient should be deferred to the end ot The financial year. Accounts amounting to £1690 93 lid were passed for payment. In regard to the difficulty in obtaining suitable trainees for maternity nursing, a circular from the Hospital Boards’ Association stated the various 'reasons for the difficulty: (a) The introduction of the lower “maternity nurse” qualification disregarded the ‘Commonly , experienced difficulty in ar--ranging professional medical attendance in the country, and in fact, in obtaining sufficient supervision whether it was arranged for either in town or countrv; (b) 'that extraordinary distincti/ns between maternity nurses and midwives created difficulties in the staffing-of maternity wards; (c) _ the differences between tlie two qualifications were not understood by the public and gave rise to much confusion; (d) the number of training schools for midwives has been reduced from 28 to 13 with a consequent considerable reduction in opportunities for studying for the higher qualification, making those who would otherwise be midwives to act as maternity nurses with a doctor. The matter had been the subject of a deputation to the Hon. J. A. Young, who promised consideration though it was not proposed to make anv amendments at present. The letter was received. After some discussion it was decided that the Matron eo to Christchurch to investigate the best facilities for serving meals, as the present- food trollies are inadequate and do not keep meals liot in the course of taking them from the kitchen to- the farthest ward. A most hearty vote of thanks was moved to Mies Brown, of Elgin, and her helpers whose efforts in collecting money for Christmas comforts were so substantially rewarded.. It was decided that the filling of the vacancy in the Malvern Home, caused by the’resignation cf Nurse Svmons be left to the Medical Superintendent and Matron. _ Dr. Bathgate wrote to the Board in connection with tlie post-graduate training course for nurses. At nresent there was no member of the staff whom he could suggest’ to receive a scholarship for training as a tutor-sister. Until the occasion should arise, Dr. Bathgate recommended, the matter should be held over. This it- was agreed to do. Seven tender for extensions to the Methven Home were received, and that of Messrs Smitheram and Reddecliffe, of Ashburton, at £538, was accepted, subject to the approval of the Minister of Health, The matter of obtaining a steriliser was left to the Medical Superintendent and the Matron. The electrical work, which would involve the wiring of fire points was given to the Ashburton Power Board. The steriliser and electrical work were extras distinct from the main tender.